The Philadelphia 76ers proved that they are more than just a one-man show when Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid combined to propel the team to a thrilling 113-111 victory over the Sacramento Kings at home. The duo's performance was nothing short of spectacular, with Maxey and Embiid accounting for an astonishing 77 points out of the Sixers' total tally.
Maxey finally regained his early-season form, showcasing a more dominant game that had fans and observers alike taking notice. He scored eight points in a three-possession span in the first quarter, dicing up Sacramento in the mid-range before connecting on a gorgeous step-back triple and then pulling up from long range in transition. The Sixers' offense was firing on all cylinders with Maxey leading the way, as he entered halftime with 23 points on only 10 shot attempts.
Meanwhile, Embiid continued to make progress in his development as a player. He sleepwalked to 10 points in the first quarter without doing anything particularly impressive, but that felt like a stronger sign of his growth than many of the monstrous scoring surges he has managed over the last month or so. Embiid's historic scoring prowess has been exemplified by his ability to flow into mid-range jumpers and bait fouls to carry an offense on his own.
However, it was clear that Embiid is no longer the lone source of consistent offense for the Sixers. He will never not have touch on those jumpers, and the same way he will never not have tremendous spatial awareness around the rim to convert finishes like this one. After months of uncharacteristic struggles as a three-point shooter, Embiid's long-range touch is finally coming around, too; that would complete the picture of a three-level scorer who is virtually unstoppable.
The duo's partnership was on full display in the fourth quarter, with Maxey's return to form enabling the Sixers to find their offensive juice once again. The team erased a late deficit and escaped when Maxey and Embiid took turns making plays, with the two stars dragging their team across the finish line.
While some additional notes from the game are worth mentioning, it's clear that the real story was the resurgence of Maxey and the continued growth of Embiid. With Quentin Grimes once again out due to a right ankle sprain, Jared McCain entered a game with heightened opportunity and importance, but after a terrific breakthrough performance on Tuesday, McCain was mostly quiet in this one.
As for next up, the Sixers will play host to the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday in what will also serve as the reunion for the 2001 Sixers.
Maxey finally regained his early-season form, showcasing a more dominant game that had fans and observers alike taking notice. He scored eight points in a three-possession span in the first quarter, dicing up Sacramento in the mid-range before connecting on a gorgeous step-back triple and then pulling up from long range in transition. The Sixers' offense was firing on all cylinders with Maxey leading the way, as he entered halftime with 23 points on only 10 shot attempts.
Meanwhile, Embiid continued to make progress in his development as a player. He sleepwalked to 10 points in the first quarter without doing anything particularly impressive, but that felt like a stronger sign of his growth than many of the monstrous scoring surges he has managed over the last month or so. Embiid's historic scoring prowess has been exemplified by his ability to flow into mid-range jumpers and bait fouls to carry an offense on his own.
However, it was clear that Embiid is no longer the lone source of consistent offense for the Sixers. He will never not have touch on those jumpers, and the same way he will never not have tremendous spatial awareness around the rim to convert finishes like this one. After months of uncharacteristic struggles as a three-point shooter, Embiid's long-range touch is finally coming around, too; that would complete the picture of a three-level scorer who is virtually unstoppable.
The duo's partnership was on full display in the fourth quarter, with Maxey's return to form enabling the Sixers to find their offensive juice once again. The team erased a late deficit and escaped when Maxey and Embiid took turns making plays, with the two stars dragging their team across the finish line.
While some additional notes from the game are worth mentioning, it's clear that the real story was the resurgence of Maxey and the continued growth of Embiid. With Quentin Grimes once again out due to a right ankle sprain, Jared McCain entered a game with heightened opportunity and importance, but after a terrific breakthrough performance on Tuesday, McCain was mostly quiet in this one.
As for next up, the Sixers will play host to the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday in what will also serve as the reunion for the 2001 Sixers.
! It's great to see Tyrese Maxey finding his groove again after a rough patch, and Joel Embiid is still killing it on all levels 
. The fact that they're becoming an unstoppable duo is a total game-changer for Philly hoops fans. Their chemistry is so natural, and it's awesome to see them feeding off each other's strengths in the fourth quarter. Maxey's return to form was the spark we needed, and Embiid's growth as a three-point shooter has taken their threat to 3-level scoring to new heights 
! Jared McCain had some quiet moments tonight, but he'll be back in action soon, and I'm excited to see what the rest of the season holds for these guys 
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. It's like they're reading each other's moves on court and making magic happen 
. The way Maxey got back into his groove in the first quarter was so satisfying to watch 
, and Embiid's long-range touch is finally coming around – that's a whole new level of scary for opposing teams 
️. And yeah, Jared McCain had a solid game too, but let's be real, it was all about Maxey and Embiid tonight 
. Bring on the Pelicans game next Saturday – I'm hyped 
!
. it's awesome to see maxey coming out of his shell and playing like he did in the beginning of the season. and embiid is still growing into that three-point threat role 
. i'm loving the chemistry between these two guys.
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. I'm so hyped for these guys and the rest of the team! Can't wait to see what the rest of the season holds 
The 76ers are finally looking like a team with their resurgence of Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid! It's crazy how much of a difference it makes when they're both clicking on all cylinders 
. I mean, we've seen Embiid dominate games for years, but now he's got a partner in crime who can take some of that load off him 
. They're no longer relying on one superstar to carry the team; they've got each other's backs...and in some cases, that means Maxey can finally get out of Embiid's shadow 
. The future looks bright for these guys! 
in that first quarter, hitting those mid-range shots like they were nothing 
. It's like the ceiling on his game is way higher than we thought, you know? 
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️. It was like they were saying, "Hey, we've got this" 
. And Jared McCain is definitely on my radar now 
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? i think he's been hyped up enough already... but seriously, it's good to see him making plays and scoring from different spots on the court. and embiid's growth is insane 
. but yeah, this win against the kings was a great morale booster for the team. bring on the pelicans next! 
. They're showing us that there's more to the 76ers than just one superstar. It's awesome to see Maxey bounce back from his early-season slump and Embiid continue to develop his game. He's still a beast in the paint, but now he can stretch the defense with his range too 
they're both proving themselves to be more than just a one-man show 
️. 
. i'm loving this partnership between these two 
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he's definitely got potential 
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can't wait for the pelicans rematch 
. And let's not forget about Jared McCain - he's got the skills, but maybe needs a bit more time to find his rhythm 
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. It's about time Maxey snapped out of that early-season funk, showing off some serious skills 
. But what's impressive is how their partnership is taking them to a whole new level. They're like two peas in a pod, working together seamlessly 
. Now that Grimes is out, it'll be interesting to see if the rest of the team can keep up with these two stars shining bright 
and embiid's growth as a player is amazing to watch 
he's finally getting his three-point shot on point and it's completing the picture of him being a 3-level scorer 